Chess Puzzle #1SCZV — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 907 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks d1/d4; bishop f7; pawns a3/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks d8/f8; knights c3/c5; pawns a7/b6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd1 — knight c3→d1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh4+ — rook d4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh4 (queen e7→h4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh4# — queen c4→h4, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r1k/p3qBp1/1p6/2n5/2QR4/P1n1P2P/5PP1/3R2K1 b - - 2 25

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.